Fluid dispensing apparatus



Jan. l2, 1943. v. D. BARKr-:R

FLUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed June 18, 1940 r llllqillll Patented Jan. 12, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,301,911 FLUm msrENslNGArAnATUs vinu D. Barkeawestaeld, N. J. Application June 18, 1940, Serial No. 341,122

s claims. (ci. zei-73.5)

Although not limited to any particular embodiment, my invention may be advantageously embodied in apparatus for dispensing air at an automobile service station. At such a station,

' compressed air is principally used for operation square inch, by a pump operated by an electric motor, and to store it in a supply tank from which it may be released through dispensing apparatus which is adjustable to predetermine the pressure to which any air receiver may be charged.

Letters Patent of the United States No. 2,162,474 was granted June 13, 1939, to me for Fluid dispensing apparatus, of the class above contemplated and operative to dispense compressed air by a succession of pulsations until the back pressure through the dispensing conduit reaches that to which the controlling means is adjusted. That apparatus includes two control valves (shown in Fig. VI) each separately spring pressed toward its closed position but adapted to be automatically opened, by compressed air operating through lever linkages, to dispense the highly compressed air in such pulsations, through the dispensing conduit, until the selected pressure, variably predetermined by manual adjustment of a spring, is attained in the tire or other air receiver. In that patented structure, the two valves are operated in proper sequence by respective rocker cams, in cooperative relation with respective rocker cam levers, carrying respective rollers, which are independently spring stressed into cooperative relation with the rocker cams. My present invention is a modification of the construction, arrangement, and method of operation of that patented structure. Both inventions utilize two diaphragm chambers each containing a pressure sensitive reciprocatory diaphragm, subjected to stresses in opposite directions by uid pressure and a spring opposed to such pressure, both diaphragms being intermittently subjected to high pressure uid from a reservoir or other source and one hereinafter termed the second chamber is continually in communication with a service conduit, through which the highly compressed air is dispensed, which conduit is normally, automatically, closed by a valve at its discharge end between successive dispensing operations; whereas the other chamber is not in communication with said conduit. In said patent, the diaphragm chamber which is not in communication with the service conduit, and which is termed the first chamber, is continually in communication with the atmosphere through a restricted vent local to that chamber and remote from the control valves. On the contrary, in the present invention there are four automatically operative valves; there is no continually open vent to the atmosphere, but fluid is intermittently vented from the first diaphragm chamber by one of the control valves. Another valve controls the inlet of pressure to that chamber, and what is herein termed the main valve controls the supply of air directly from the source to said second chamber and service conduit, the passage of air to and from said second chamber being controlled by what I term a timer Valve which automatically determines the times when the first and second valves shall be opened and closed, to alternately charge the first diaphragm chamber with the highest pressure air, and vent it to the atmosphere.

My invention operates in positively controlled cycles to force' successive pulsatory charges of fluid into a receiver; each charge of uid being automatically terminated at an interval after its initiation.

Only a small quantity of the high pressure uid from the source is required to furnish sufficient power for operating the apparatus, and it is subsequently exhausted to the atmosphere by the -automatic opening of said second valve.

My invention comprises the various novel features of construction, arrangement, and method of operation hereinafter more definitely specifled.

In said drawing,

Fig, I is a rear elevation of a main casing, connected with a conduit leading from the high pressure fluid supply reservoir and with a fluid dispensing service conduit, and said casing encloses the two diaphragm chambers and has on the front thereof indicating mechanism, not shown herein, including a plurality of adjustable numbered wheels.

Fig. II is a longitudinal sectional view of the main valve casing shown in Fig. I and the valve therein which controls the supply of high pressure air to the second diaphragm chamber, and the service conduit.

Fig. III is a longitudinal sectional view of the timerjvalve shown in Fig. I.

In said drawing, the main casing l, (which has the rear cover plate I, partly omitted,) encloses two diaphragm chambers 2 and 3, each containing a reciprocatory diaphragm, respectively 4 and I. The fluid pressure supply conduit 6, from any suitable source of highly compressed air, supplies such air to said diaphragm chambers under` automatic valve control, as hereinafter described.-

The uid pressure service conduit 8 leads from said chamber 3, and the compressed air is dispensed through it to the receiver. For the purpose of servicing and innating automobile tires, said service conduit 8 may have a ilexible dispensing hose 81 connected therewith having at the discharge end thereof a suitable connecting nttlng or chuck 82 for convenient attachment to a tire valve stem 83. Such a chuck embodies a valve which closes to prevent air from escaping from the hose when not attached to a tire stem, but is automatically opened and automatically unseats the tire valve when the chuck is properly applied to the tire valve stem.

Said diaphragm 5, which is subjected to the iluid pressure in said service conduit 8, has operatively connected therewith the reciprocatory plunger The bell crank lever II, which is fulcrumed on the shaft I2, between a pair of suitable bearings I3 in said casing I, has its short arm II in cooperative relation with said plunger 5 and has its long arm II connected with the right hand end of the spring I5. The left hand end oi.' said spring I5 carries the nut I6 which is in threaded engagement with the adjusting screw I 'I cut on the shaft I8 extending exterior to said casing I and provided with the crank handle I9 by which it may be adjusted. That is to say, the stress of said spring I5 may be increased by turning said crank I9 clockwise or decreased by turning it counterclockwise.

I find it convenient to connect with said shaft I8 indicating means for manifesting in pounds the pressure to which the receiver is to be charged, which is predetermined by the manual adjustment of said spring I5. Such means includes a gear pinion 2I on said shaft I8 and the .intermediate gear 22 which meshes with the indicator mechanism gear 26.

When the crank handle I9 is turned by the operator, the gear 26 tunis the indicating mechanism which, as disclosed in detail in my Patent No. 2,162,474 aforesaid, includes three wheels each having on its circumference a series of numbers from 1 to 9 and 0. 'I'he rst of said wheels, which indicates individual pounds, is connected, by tens-transfer gearing, with the second numbered wheel, each of the numbers on which represents tens of pounds, and that second wheel is connected, by tens-transfer gearing, with the thirdnumbered wheel, each of the numbers on which represents hundreds of pounds. That arrangement is such that upon a complete rotation of the successive numbered wheels of lower order, the wheel of the next higher order is turned one-tenth of a revolution. Consequently, when the operator turns the crank handle I9, the three numberedy wheels indicate the pounds pressure to which the apparatus is set by the screw II stressing said spring I5 to move said bell crank lever II. For instance, in the position shown, the screw I1 has been manually adjusted to insure dispensation of compressed air through the service conduit 8 until an automobile tire or other receiver is charged to a pressure of 'thirty-five pounds per square inch.'

Said su ply conduit 5 has two branches respectively 5'- End 5h respectively leading to the diaphragm chambers 2 and 3; said branch 5b being in direct communication with the service conduit 8 through the T-iltting 28 which forms the casing for the timer valve 28' shown in Fig. III.

The first, second, and third control valves above contemplated are respectively included in the individual valve casings 29, 30, and 3l, which are all oi' the same size and pattern, (best shown in Fig. 1I)- and respectively indicated at 28', 3l', and 3| in Fis. I, arranged to be normally respectively shut by their springs 28, 35, and 3'I and thrugizb open by respective rod stems 28h, 30", and

Said rst valve 29 controls the supply of the high pressure air from the conduit 5 through the branch 8 to the diaphragm chamber 2. Said second valve 30' controls the exhaust oi' air from the diaphragm chamber 2 backward through the branch 6* to the valve casing 30 and thence through the exhaust vent 32V in that valve casing leading to the atmosphere. Said third valve 3I', which is the main valve, controls the supply of high compressed air from the supply conduit 8 through the branch 6b and timer valve casing 28 to both the second diaphragm chamber 3 and said service conduit 8.

As shown in Fig. I; the long arm II" of the bell crank lever II is arranged to push the valve 29' open by its stem 29h when the diaphragm 5 is lifted by admission of high pressure air beneath it through the timer valve casing 28, but permits said valve 29 to be closed by its spring 29 when the bell crank lever II is in the position shown in Fig. I to which it is stressed by its spring I5 when air pressure beneath the diaphragm 5 diminishes to less than the pressure for which said spring I5 is adjusted. In the position shown in Fig. I; the long arm II of the bell crank lever II, under stress of its spring I5, has thrust the valve 30' open by its stem 30", thus opening the valve casing 30 and air conduit branch 6B to the atmosphere, through the exhaust vent 32 in the valve casing 30 to permit the escape of air from beneath the diaphragm 4 in chamber 2.

Said diaphragm 4, which is subjected to the fluid pressure in the chamber 2, has operatively connected therewith the reciprocatory plunger 4. 'I'he bell crank lever 34, which is fulcrumed on the shaft 35 between a pair of suitable bearings 35 in said casing I, has its short arm 34' in cooperative relation with said plunger 4', and has its long arm 34" connected with the left hand end of the spring 38, which has its right hand end anchored on the stop stud 39. The cam roller lever 40 is fulcrumed at its left hand end on the stud 4I carried by said long arm 34", and has its right hand end connected by the spring 42 with the stud 43 fixed in said casing I,' and continually tending to `stress said roller lever downward. Said lever 40 carries the roller 45 in cooperative relation with the oppositely downwardly inclined top surface of the rocker cam 45, which is fulcrumed on the stud 41 ilxed in said main casing I and has its rocking movement limited by the stationary stop studs 48 and 49 ilxed in said casing I. The link 59, which is pivotally connected at its right hand end with said rocker cam 46, has its lett hand end pivotally connected with the valve rod SI1 to thrust the valve 3|' open when the cam roller lever 45 is in the position shown in Fig. I. In that position; the stress of the spring 38 has turned the bell crank lever 34 clockwise, causing said roller 45 to ride over the top crest of the rocker cam 45 into 'engagement with the incline at the right hand and turns the bell crank lever II clockwise against the stress ofthe spring II, the exhaust valve 30 is permitted to beclosed by its spring 30* to stop the escape of air through thervent' 32 in the valve casing 80 and, simultaneously, the valve 29 is opened by the thrust of the long arm ii of the bell crank lever il against its stem 29b to again raise the diaphragm 4 in the ilrst diaphragm chamber 2 and turn the bell crank lever 34 counterclockwise against the stress of its spring 38; thus causing the roller 4I to ride over the crest of the rocker cam 48 into cooperative engagement with 'the left hand incline at the upward end of the cam, whereupon the stress of the spring 42 turns the rocker cam 46 clockwise and permits the spring Ill of the valve 3|' to close it and stop the flow of high pressure air into the diaphragm chamber 3 and i service conduit 8.

However, as above noted, Fig. I shows the position of the parts with the main valve Ii opened, but immediately before the diaphragm 5 has been uplifted to turn the bell crank lever il clockwise at the initiation of a pulsation of pressure caused by a reduction of pressure in the service conduit 8 below that for which the spring i5 has been adjusted. 'I'hat is also the position of the parts shown in Fig. I, when the supply conduit 8 and service conduit 8 are disconnected respectively from the source of supply of compressed air and the receiver to be charged.

Referring to Fig. III; timer valve 28 is a tube mounted to loosely reciprocate to and from its annular seat around the port 28* in the top of the tubular bushing 28", which is stationary in the timer valve casing 28. The sudden inflow of high pressure air to diaphragm chamber 3, when the main valve 3i' is opened, lifts valve 28 against its seat and reduces the effective area of port 28'. When such inflow stops, valve 28 falls onto the stationary tubular abutment plug 28% and the eective area of port 28* is increased. Thus timer valve 28 differentially restricts the passage of air to and from the second diaphragm chamber 2, and automatically determines the times when the first and second control valves, 28' and 30', shall be alternately opened and closed.

When the supply conduit 8 is connected with a source of highly compressed air and the service conduit 8 closed at its discharge end by the chuck valve, or any other means, both the diaphragm chambers 2 and 3 are charged with the high pressure air, uplifting the diaphragms 4 and l and turning the bell crank levers I I and 34 to the limit of their movement respectively clockwise and counterclockwise. Such movement of the lever il is limited by contact of its arm Ii" with the inner face of the right hand side wall of the casing I. Such movement of thelever 34 is limited by the stop screw 5l which is axially adjustable in the arm 84" of that lever and may be set in adjusted position by the nut 52 thereon. Said screw 5I encounters the inner face oi the left hand wall of said casing I. Such movement of the lever 34 causes the roller 45 to pass over the crest of the cam 48 into engagement with the left hand incline of said cam; so that the spring 42, aontinually stressing the right hand end of the lever 40 downwardly, causes the cam 48 to rock clockwise against the stop 48. withdrawing the valve rod lib, from the main valve casing 8|, and permitting the main valve 3l' to be closed by its spring 3|,

Both the supply conduit l and the service conduit s being charged with mamy compressed ainandthestressofthespring iibeingadiusied to the pressure desired in a receiver, for instance a vehicle tire; connection of the chuck valve at the discharge end of the service conduit with the tire valve stem permits the high pressure air in the conduit 8 to escape into the tire until the pressure in the tirerfand in the service conduit is equalized, by decrement of the pressure in the conduit 8 and increment of the pressure in the tire. I'he decrement of pressure in the diaphragm chamber I beneath the diaphragm l permits the spring Il to turn the lever Il counterclockwise with the effect of thrusting open the valve III' by the rod Nb of that valve, thus permitting the escape of the high pressure air from the diaphragmchamber 2 beneath the diaphragm 4. backward through the air supply conduit branch l and valve casing 30. and the vent opening I2 in the valve casing 80 to the atmosphere. Such venting of the diaphragm chamber 2 permits the spring I8 to turn the lever 24 clockwise to the position shown in Fig. I, with the effect of forcing the roller 45 over the crest of the cam 48' to the right hand side thereof and permitting the spring 42 to rock the cam 48 counterclockwise to the position shown in Fig. I and thereby open lthe main valve 8i to admit a pulsatory charge of highly compressed air to both diaphragm chamber 3 and the service conduit 8.

When pressure in the diaphragm chamber I, beneath the diaphragm 5, rises to a degree sufflcient to overcome the effective forces of the spring I5, the arm ll" is moved clockwise. Such clockwise movement of the arm il permits the spring to move the valve 30' to closed position, thereby preventing the further exhausting of the chamber 2 to atmosphere. Clockwise movement of said arm II" also opens the valve 28' to permit the flow of high pressure air to the chamber 2 beneath the diaphragm 4. When pressure in the diaphragm chamber 4 rises to a degree suicient to overcome the effective forces of -the spring 38, the arm 34" is moved counterclockwise. Such counterclockwise movement of the arm 84" causes the roller 45 to roll up the right hand inclined surface of the cam 46 and roll down the left hand inclined surface, thereby moving said cam clockwise. Such clockwise movement of the cam 48 moves the link 50 and the rod lib to the right, thereby permitting the main valve 3i to be closed by its spring II, thus shutting ofi' the supply of high pressure air both to the chamber 3 and the service conduit 8.

Such pulsatory charges are automatically effected in succession until the pressure in the tire or other receiver equals the pressure to which the spring i5 has been adjustably set. Thereupon, disconnection of the service conduit 8 from the tire permits the chuck valve to close and trap the highly compressed air from the source in the diaphragm chambers 2 and I and service conduit 8, ready for the initiation of another dispensing operation by permitting the highly compressed air to escape from the discharge end of the service conduit 8, as above described.

I have found it convenient to support the valve casings 2l and 30 exterior to the main casing i, by forming the latter of cast metal and providing it with vertical flanges, and 54 in unitary relation. However, they may be otherwisearranged.

Therefore, I do not desire to limit myself to the precise details of construction, arrangement, or method of operation herein set forth, as it is obvious that various modiilcations may be made therein without departing from the essential features of my invention, as donned in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In uuid dispensing apparatus, the combination with a casing enclosing a first diaphragm chamber and a second diaphragm chamber, each containing pressure sensitive means including a reciprocatory diaphragm; of a nuid pressure supply conduit having two branches, respectively leading to said chambers; a :duid pressure service conduit leading from the second chamber and arranged to be connected to means at the discharge end of said service conduit adapted` for connection to a receiver; respective springs opposed to the iluid pressure on said diaphragms; means for adjustably varying the pressure ofthe spring opposed to the service pressure diaphragm in the second chamber; a rst valve arranged to control the supply of high pressure fluid to the ilrst chamber, a second valve arranged to control the exhaust of iluid from the lrst cham- Vber to the atmosphere; a main valve arranged to control the supply of high pressure fluid to the second chamber and the service conduit, a timer valve arranged to differentially restrict the passage of fluid to and from the second chamber; means operatively connecting said first and second valves with the diaphragm in said second chamber, and the spring opposed to that diaphragm; whereby said ilrst valve is arranged to be closed and the second valve opened by the stress of the spring opposed to the second diaphragm and the rst valve opened and second valve closed, by iiuid pressure on that diaphragm; means operatively connecting said main valve with the diaphragm in said iirst chamber and the spring opposed to that diaphragm; whereby the main valve is arranged to be opened by spring stress, and closed by iluid pressure in said ilrst chamber; whereby said valves are automatically operated in accordance with uctuations in the iluid pressure on both diaphragms and fluid is dispensed, in successive pulsations, from said supply conduit through said service conduit, until the pressure in the receiver is equal to the eifecn tive pressure of the adjusted spring.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1; wherein the control valves have respective springs continually stressing them toward their closed position, the means operatively connecting the main valve with the diaphragm in the irst chamber and the spring opposed to that diaphragm includes a bell crank lever, having a short arm in cooperative relation with that diaphragm and a long arm in cooperative relation with the latter spring, a rocker cam, a cam roller lever carrying a roller and pivoted at one end to said long arm, a spring continually stressing the cam roller lever with its roller 'in cooperative relation with the cam, and a valve push rod in operating relation with said rocker cam.

3..Apparatus as in claim l; wherein the control valves have respective springs continually stressing them toward their closed position, the means operatively connecting the first and second valves with the diaphragm in the second chamber and the adjustable spring opposed to that diaphragm includes a bell crank lever, having a short arm in cooperative relation with that diaphragm and along arm in cooperative relation with that spring; and valve push rods in cooperative relation with said long arm; whereby, said valves are alternately opened and permitted to close, by oscillation o! said lever.

4. Apparatus as in claim 1; wherein the means operatively connecting the main valve with the diaphragm in the ilrst chamber and the spring opposed to that diaphragm includes a bell crank lever, having a short arm in cooperative -relation with that diaphragm and a long arm in cooperative relation with that spring, a rocker cam, a cam roller lever carrying a roller and pivoted at one end to said long arm, a spring continually stressing the cam roller lever with its roller in cooperative relation with the cam, a valve push rod in operating relation with said rocker cam; the control valves have respective springs continually stressing them toward their closed position, the means operatively connecting the first and second valves with the diaphragm in the second chamber and the adjustable spring opposed to that diaphragm includes a bell crank lever, having a short arm in cooperative relation with that diaphragm and a long arm in cooperative relation with the latter spring, valve push rods in cooperative relation with said long arm; whereby, said valves are alternately opened and permitted to close, by oscillation oi' said lever.

5. In fluid dispensing apparatus, the combination with a main casing enclosing a first diaphragm chamber and a second diaphragm chamber, each containing pressure sensitive means including a reciprocatory diaphragm; of a uid pressure supply conduit having two branches, respectively leading to said chambers; a fluid pressure service conduit leading from the second chamber `and arranged to be connected to means at the discharge end of said service conduit adapted for connection to a receiver; respective springs opposed to the fluid pressure on said diaphragms; means for adjustably varying the pressure of the spring opposed to the service pressure diaphragm in the second chamber; a first valve arranged to control the supply of high pressure fluid to the rst chamber, a second valve arranged to control the exhaust of iluid from the rst chamber to the atmosphere; a main valve arranged to control the supply of high pressure iluid to the second chamber and the service conduit, a timer valve arranged to differentially restrict the passage oi.' uid to and from the second chamber; means operatively connecting said first and second valves with the diaphragm in said second chamber, and the spring opposed to that diaphragm, including a lever; whereby said ilrst valve is arranged to be closed and the second valve opened by the stress of the spring opposed to the second diaphragm and the iirst valve opened and second valve closed, by fluid pressure on that diaphragm; means operatively connecting said main valve with the diaphragm in said nrst chamber and the spring opposed to that diaphragm; whereby the main valve is arranged to be opened by spring stress, and closed by iluid pressure in said rst chamber; whereby said valves are automatically operated in accordance with iluctuations in the uid pressure on both diaphragms and uid is dispensed, in successive pulsationsffrom said supply conduit through said service conduit, until the pressure in the receiver is equal to the eiective pressure of the adjusted spring.

6. In fluid dispensing apparatus, the combination with a casing enclosing a rst diaphragm chamber and a second diaphragm chamber, each containing pressure sensitive means including a reciprocatory diaphragm; o! a iiuid pressure supply conduit having branches respectively leading to said chambers; a ilrst valve controlling the supply of high pressure air to the nrst chamber; a second valve controlling the escape of air from i .the nrst chamber through a vent to the atmosphere; a main valve controlling the supply of tion with a casing enclosing a first diaphragm chamber and a second diaphragm chamber, each containing pressure sensitive means including a reciprocatory diaphragm; of a iluid pressure supply conduit having branches respectively leading to said chambers; a rst valve controlling the l supply of high pressure air to the first chamber;

a second valve controlling the escape of air from the first chamber through a vent to the atmosphere; a main valve controlling the supply of high pressure air to the second chamber; a fluid pressure service conduit leading from the second chamber and arranged to be connected to means at the discharge end of said service conduit adapted for connection to a fluid receiver; wherein the means connecting the rst and second valves with the diaphragm in the second diaphragm chamber includes a lever; and the means connecting the main valve with the diaphragm in the iirst diaphragm chamber includes a rocker cam and two levers.

8. In iluid dispensing apparatus, the combination with a casing enclosing a iirst diaphragm chamber and a second diaphragm chamber, each containing pressure sensitive means including a reciprocatory diaphragm; of a fluid pressure supply conduit having branches respectively leading to said chambers; a rst valve controlling the supply of highvpressure air to the rst chamber; a second valve controlling the escape oi air from the first chamber through a vent to the atmosphere; a main valve controlling the supply of high pressure air to the second chamber; a fluid pressure service conduit leading from the second chamber and arranged to be connected to means at the discharge end of said service conduit adapted for connection to a uid receiver; wherein the means connecting the rst and second valves with the diaphragm in the second daphragm chamber includes a lever; and the means connecting the main valve with the diaphragm in the rst diaphragm chamber includes a bell crank lever, a rocker cam, and a cam roller lever, carrying a roller, and a spring continuallystressing said roller in cooperative relation with said cam.

' VIRGIL D. BARKER. 

